Junior doctors in West Bengal, India, have vowed to continue their strike until their demands are met, despite a Supreme Court deadline. The protest is in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, whose body was discovered on August 9 in a classroom at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The striking doctors are calling for several changes, including the removal of the Kolkata police chief, enhanced safety measures such as increased security staff and CCTV cameras in hospitals, and improved patient services in government hospitals.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, representing around 7,000 physicians, has indicated that they will only consider the court’s order if their demands are addressed by the specified deadline. “If our demands are not met, we will assume the government does not wish to resolve the deadlock,” the group stated. “In that case, we will hold the government accountable for the resulting situation across the state.”
Dr. Shubhendu Malik, a spokesperson for the junior doctors at RG Kar hospital, criticized the lack of progress, stating, “We haven’t seen any CCTV cameras installed since the incident. There are no restrooms or separate toilets for men and women.”
The Supreme Court, which intervened due to widespread outrage over the incident, has given the doctors until the next day to return to work or face “adverse action.”
The incident has sparked protests globally, with thousands of Indians demonstrating in 25 countries, including the United States and Japan, calling for justice. Rights activists have highlighted that this case underscores the ongoing issue of sexual violence against women in India, despite stricter laws introduced after a 2012 gang rape and murder in New Delhi.
A police volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime, and the former principal of the medical college faces corruption charges.
